Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him quietly. We went to
his room, and within a minute Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and
Mr. Morris were with us also. He told them what Mina had said,
and went on:" In the morning we shall leave for Varna. We have
now to deal with a new factor: Madam Mina. Oh, but her soul is
true. It is to her an agony to tell us so much as she has done; but it
is most right, and we are warned in time. There must be no chance
lost, and in Varna we must be ready to act the instant when that
ship arrives."

"What shall we do exactly?" asked Mr. Morris laconically. The
Professor paused before replying:"We shall at the first board that
ship; then, when we have identified the box, we shall place a
branch of the wild rose on it. This we shall fasten, for when it is
there none can emerge; so at least says the superstition. And to
superstition must we trust at the first; it was manís faith in the
early, and it have its root in faith still. Then, when we get the
opportunity that we seek, when none are near to see, we shall open
the box, and-and all will be well."

"I shall not wait for any opportunity," said Morris. "When I see the
box I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were a
thousand men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the
next moment!" I grasped his hand instinctively and found it as firm
as a piece of steel. I think he understood my look; I hope he did.

"Good boy," said Dr. Van Helsing. "Brave boy. Quincey is all
man, God bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall
lag behind or pause from any fear. I do but say what we may do-what we must do. But, indeed, indeed we cannot say what we shall
do. There are so many things which may happen, and their ways
and their ends are so various that until the moment we may not say.
We shall all be armed, in all ways; and when the time for the end
has come, our effort shall not be lack. Now let us to-day put all our
affairs in order. Let all things which touch on others dear to us, and
who on us depend, be complete; for none of us can tell what, or
when, or how, the end may be. As for me, my own affairs are
regulate; and as I have nothing else to do, I shall go make
arrangement for the travel. I shall have all tickets and so forth for
our journey."

"There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now
settle up all my affairs of earth, and be ready for whatever may
come...

Later.- It is all done; my will is made, and all complete. Mina if
she survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the others
who have been so good to us shall have remainder.